For days we had been on the lookout for the rowers we knew were crossing the Atlantic at

the same time. Each one of us agreed that if we spotted a rower on our watch, we would wake the others. At one point, Andy and Catherine saw the AIS indicate a small boat going at 1.5knots 12 miles to the south, but we didn’t make contact. Then on our last day, Maddie from Vibe the Wave – radioed us on the VHF to say, ‘Hey, we’re here! Don’t run us over!

We made a very quick decision to throw in a tack and 30 minutes later were within shouting, cheering and hollering distance of the three women who were a mere dozen miles or so from having rowed the Atlantic. We were humbled and in awe xof their journey. They’d braved nearly two months at sea in a tiny boat, exposed to all elements and without all the comforts we’d had. Talk about impressed!

On a side note, even though we had all the technology to tell us where they were, and the seas were calm, they were still difficult to spot. Another reason why people stay inside the boat and the water on the outside.

Huge congratulations to Grace Phybus, Grace Gilbert and Maddie Difazio-Wright. You are brilliant adventurers who have proven that life can be extraordinary.